Horn button operating device



June 1949a H. HQLLHNGSWQRTH lgwgggi HORN BUTTON OPERATING DEVICE Filed April 13, 1936 3 Shams-Sheet 2 flfaarz'ce H Hollz'zayswarfk All rn 19m 0 June 9 1940 M. H HQLLINGSWORTH HORN BUTTON OPERATING @EVICE 3 .m 1 h 0 t w W & 1 3 a H 6 w W 0 Filed April 13, 1955 A tlorneys Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE Application April 13,

8 Claims.

My invention relates generally to automobile steering wheel horn button and steering wheel' construction, and particularly to a combined arrangement of steering wheel horn button operating device and an article oiutility incorporated therein, such as a watch or clock, vanity cases, and the like, and an important object of my invention is to provide arrangements of this character which are extremely practical both from the standpoint of operation and from the standpoint of ease and eillciency of installation on diilferent makes of automobiles.

Another important object of my invention is to provide arrangements of the character indicated above which render easier and more convenient the operation of the horn button for sounding the born without removing the hand or hands from .the rim of the steering wheel, and to remedy the defects heretofore inherent in devices of this general class.

Another important object of my invention is to provide arrangements of the character indicated above in which the article of utility is incorporated in a new, more useful and more efllcient manner, so that the combination is mechanically practical and meets an insistent public demand.

Another important object of my invention is to provide in arrangements of the character indicated above a constructional and functional cooperation of horn button operating device and article of utility such as a clock, whereby the efficiency of the device is in no way impaired, and whereby the efliciency of the article suchas a clock, is not only enhanced from a utility standting standpoint.

Other important objects of my invention-will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the invention showing the same installed on a steering wheel.

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the embodiment removed from the steering wheel.

Figure 3 is a top plan view showing the horn button operating device removed from the steering wheel and exposing the mounting means and the interior of the horn button mechanism well.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 approximately on the line 44.

66 Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view point, but is enhanced from a winding and set-;

1936, Serial No. 74,192

taken through Figure 4 approximately on the line Figure 6 is aperspective view of one of the eye bolts.

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view 5 taken through another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the mounting means shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view 10 taken through another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10 is a transverse vertical sectional and side elevational view taken through a still further embodiment of the invention showing a 16 rigid connection of the horn button operating device with the horn button itself.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and first to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 through i, the numeral 5 generally desig- 20 nates the steering column on which the steering wheel generally designated 6 is mounted in a con-. ventional manner, the said steering wheel including the hub 'l which is formed with the cylindrical well 8 in its top through and above the 5 bottom of which projects the steering post portion 9 which includes the nut Ill threaded on its upper end to engage the bottom of the well 8 or an intermediate member lying thereon to hold the steering wheel in place. The steering wheel has the usual spokes I I and the rim I2 and is in these and in all other respects conventional, the constructions mentioned to be taken as generic in interpretation, since different makes of automobiles aind different models have or may have differently formed steering wheels which, however, would essentially possess the features mentioned.

A conventional horn button operated switch mechanism which is generaly designated I3 is mounted in the well 8 and includes the spring arrangement I4 which yieldably supports the horn button l5 in the elevated initial condition in which the switch is open. The horn button may assume any conventional form and be either flat or rounded on its upper side or top indicated by the numeral l6.

In accordance with the present invention the horn button operating device which is generally designated ll comprises a central annular mem ber l8 which acts as the supporting member for the article of utility such as the clock l9 which it embraces and to which it is attached, and the horn button engaging element, and includes the dual spokes 20 which may be in the form of square or round metal rods and which are attached at their outer ends to the ring 2|. The spokes 20 are long--enough to bring the ring 2| sufficiently close to the rim I2 of the steering wheel to enable the driver to depress the ring 2| without taking his hand or hands from the rim l2 of the steering wheel, and close enough to the top of the steering wheelto prevent the horn button operating device from being at too great an elevation above the steering wheel, which condition would act as an inconvenience and obstruction. Itis to be kept in mind that the horn button operating device is equally applicable in the form being described to flat or convex or concave steering wheels,'simply by giving a conforming curvature to the spokes 20.

Straddling each pair of spokes 20 intermediate the ends thereof are the blocks 22 and 23, the blocks 22 being purely decorative in character and acting as supports for the dummy rods 24 and the dummy knurled knobs 25. The block 23 has mechanical significance besides that of bracing the spokes 20 because of its supporting function in connection with the rotatable rod 26 which is connected at its inner end to the stem wind and set arrangement of the clock I9 and has at its outer end the knurled knob 21 which is grasped for the purpose of pulling out and pushing in the stem set, and for rotating the stem set in setting and winding the clock or watch I9.

The bottom of the supporting member i8 has an annular portion 28 whose lower edge is substantially conformed to the contour of the top of the horn button, so as to rest conformably thereon in a manner to prevent sliding as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. This arrangement spaces the watch or clock It! from the top of the horn button sufllciently to prevent any injurious contact between the clock and the horn button in any relative movement of the horn button and the supporting member I8.

Means for positively holding the horn button operating device II in position on the steering wheel and relative to the horn button comprises the bracket which is generally designated 30 and which includes the flat annular part 3| which lies around the top of the steering wheel hub immediately adjacent the well 8, and from which radiate the arms 32 and circumferentially spaced between these arms, the hooks 33.

The hooks 33 are shaped to conform in curvature to the contour of the upper part and side portions of the steering wheel hub and they have on their lower ends set screws 34 which are ar ranged to either hook under the expanded portion of the steering wheel hub as indicated in Figure 4, or to bite into'the side of the steering wheel hub, so as to have in either case the effect of securely clamping the annular part 30 on the top of the hub.

The arms 32 have adjacent their outer ends the unthreaded openings 35 which lie directly over the corresponding spokes ll of the steering wheel and which receive the threaded lower ends 31 of the respective eye bolts 36 which have at their upper ends the rectangular eyes 38 which include the substantially parallel-sided vertically elongated openings 39 of a width to slidably receive the respective rods 24, 24 and 26, whereby sidewise motion of these rods relative to the steering whiel is positively prevented, while a limited amount of vertical movement thereof is allowed.

An acorn nut 40 is conveniently threaded on. the lower end of the threaded portion 31 of the eye bolts to engage the bottom of the respective arm 32, while a plain nut 4| used as a lock nut, is threaded on the portion 31 and engages the top of the arm 32 whereby respective eye bolt 36 is supported at the proper elevation to perform the functions indicated.

By reason of the arrangements described, the horn button mechanism spring 14 by acting on the lower end of the horn button l5 will push the horn button operating device to the limit of its upper position in which the rods 24, 24 and 26 will rest against the upper end of the opening in the eye bolts and be positively prevented from disengaging the supporting member l8 from the horn button, no matter what the vibration of the vehicle may be, and even if the ring or any of the spokes should be struck accidentally by the operator in operating the steering wheel or other controls of the automobile. No other position or arrangement of the horn button operating device can be occupied by it except during the exertion of pressure by the driver upon the ring in an act of operating the horn of the automobile. During any of the tilted or depressed positions of the device, the eye bolts positively hold the device in proper alignment and in such a manner that should the operator suddenly or inadvertently release the pressure on the ring or other portion of the device, the spring I4 can restore the device to its elevated initial position without any damage or disarrangement thereof.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 7, it will be noticed that the same numerals as employed in describing the first mentioned embodiment are utilized with distinguishing small letter characters, so that the numeral 5a designates the steering column, the numeral 6a. the hub of the steering wheel, the numeral 8a the well in the hub of the steering wheel, and the numeral Ila the spokes of the steering wheel. The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure '7 particularly applies to automobiles having steering wheels and horn button construction similar to that employed in certain current models, wherein the well 8 has a substantially cylindrical wall 43. This wall 43 is already present in the well 8a and I take advantage of this present structure to divest the bracket 30a of the clamping hooks 33, and to provide instead direct attachment to the upper end of the shell 43 of the annulus 3w, by welding or by some other suitable means of permanent attachment. The shell 43 being a pressed fit in the well 811, gives adequate permanent mounting for the annulus 3| and its arms 3211.

All other arrangements and construction of the horn button operating device, including the spoke equipped ring 2| and the retaining eye bolts 36 are utilized and employed in conjunction with the present embodiment. Therefore, repetition of the description of these parts will not be made.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 9, which is particularly directed to steering wheel structrres such as used conventionally on certain automobiles, which contain as original equipment a metallic cup 44 which is held in place by the steering post nut lllb which is threaded on the upper end of the steering post 9b. This cup has on its upper end a laterally outwardly extending radial flange 45. I take advantage of this conventional and present construction to eliminate from the bracket construction 30 shown in the first described embodiment the retaining hooks 33 and their clamping screws 34, while retaining the radial arms 32b as done in the case of the embodiment shown in Figures '7 and 8, and arranging the annulus 3| b to be retained in place on the top of the steering wheel hub by the aforementioned flange 45, the nut lflb being sufllciently tightened to procure the necessary rigid mounting of the annulus 3lb on the top of the steering wheel hub, to support and maintain in the positions already mentioned, the horn button operating device II, which is in all particulars like the horn button operating devices described in connection with the two foregoing embodiments.

Referring now to Figure 10 wherein a still further embodiment of the invention is shown, elimination of the retaining eye bolts 36 is effected by providing the supporting member I80 of the horn button operating device with removable inwardly projecting annular flanges 46 which are held in place by screws or the like 41 and which are formed to receive the laterally projecting annular edge 48 of the horn button I50, and in a manner to securely mount the supporting member I80 and consequently the spokes and ring 2lc bodily on the horn button. Of course, in this embodiment of the invention the retaining eye bolts 36 may also be used, but they can be eliminated if this is desired, since suiiicient support in all directions is afforded by the immediately above described arrangement to securely and operatively mount the device No. In this embodiment the use of a particularly strong spring in the horn switch is deemed advisable to lend rigidity to the arrangement and to prevent wobbling of the horn button operating device in service.

Although I have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials, and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a steering wheel having a rim and a hub including a well adapted to accommodate horn switch mechanism including an actuator having radial spokes, a bracket having an annular part resting on the top of said hub around said well attaching means engaging the hub and holding said bracket in place thereon, said bracket further comprising radial arms, guiding and retaining members projecting upwardly from said radial arms, said guiding and retaining members being adapted to be engaged with the spokes of the actuator in a manner to prevent circumferential movement but permit limited up and down movement of said spokes, said attaching means comprising a tube tight fitted in said well.

2. In combination with a steering wheel having a hub including a well adapted to accommodate horn switch mechanism including an actuator having radial spokes, a lateral extension on said hub, a bracket having an annular part stationarily resting on the top of said hub around said well and attaching means engaging the hub and holding said bracket in place thereon, said bracket further comprising radial arms, guiding and retaining members projecting upwardly from said radial arms, said guiding and retaining members being adapted to be engaged with the spokes of the actuator in a manner to prevent circumferential movement but permit limited up and down movement of said spokes, said attaching means comprising hooks engaging under said lateral extension of the hub.

3. In combination with a steering wheel having a hub including a well adapted to accommodate horn switch mechanism including an actuator having radial spokes, a bracket having an annular part resting on the top of said hub around said well and said bracket further comprising radial arms, guiding and retaining members projecting upwardly from said radial arms, said guiding and retaining members being adapted to be engaged with the spokes of the actuator in a manner to prevent circumferential movement but permit limited up and down movement of said spokes, said bracket further comprising a shell depending from said annular parts and fastened within said well, whereby said annular part is recurely fastened in place on the hub.

4. In combination with a steering wheel having a hub including a well adapted to accommodate horn switch mechanism including an actuator having radial spokes, a bracket having an annular part resting on the top of said hub around said well and attaching means engaging the hub andholding said bracket in place, said bracket further comprising radial arms, guiding and retaining members projecting upwardly from said radial arms, said guiding and retaining members being adapted to be engaged with the spokes of the actuator in a manner to prevent circumferential movement but permit limited up and down movement of said spokes, said attaching means comprising a cup fitting within said well, a lateral flange on the upper edge of said cup and overlying the top of the hub and a part of the top of said annular part and holding said bracket in place of the hub, and means securing said cup in place in said well.

5 A steering wheel having a hub including a well adapted to accommodate horn switch mechanism including an actuator having radial spokes, a bracket having an annular part engaged with the top of said hub around said well and attaching means engaging the hub and holding said bracket in place, said bracket further comprising radial arms, guiding and retaining members projecting upwardly from said radial arms, said guiding and retaining members being adapted to be engaged with the spokes of the actuator in a manner to prevent circumferential movement but permit limited up and down movement of said spokes, each of said guiding and retaining members comprising a closed loop having 8. depending shank connected to the respective radial arm with each loop receiving the spoke of the actuator adjacent thereto.

6. In a steering wheel of the type having a hub including a well enclosing horn switch mechanism comprising a depressible spring-pressed horn button, a bracket having an annular part resting on the top of said hub around said horn button and well and attaching means engaging the hub and holding said bracket in place, said bracket further comprising radial arms, guiding and retaining members projecting upwardly from said radial arms, an actuator comprising a member resting on top of said horn button and including radial spokes and having spaced elements engaging upper and lower sides of the horn button, said guiding and retaining members being engaged with said spokes in a manner to prevent circumferential movement but iii) permit limited up {and down movement of said spokes. "i

7. In a steering wheel of the type having a hub including a well enclosing horn switch mechanism comprising a depressible spring pressed horn button, a bracket having an annular part resting on the top of said hub around said horn button and well and attaching means engaging the hub and holding said bracket in place, said bracket further comprising radial arms, guiding and retaining members projecting upwardly from said radial arms, an actuator including a central member including radial spokes, said. guiding and retaining members being engaged with said spokes in a manner to prevent circumferential movement but permit limited up and down movement of said spokes, said cen= ial member having vertically spaced flanges engaging upper and lower surfaces of said horn aaoaaai button and fixing said member to said horn button.

8. In combination, a steering wheel comprising a hub, said hub being formed with a well adapted to contain horn switch mechanism, said mechanism comprising an actuator having radial spokes, a mounting element comprising an annulus directly engaged with the top of said hub and surrounding said well, said mounting element having circumferentially spaced spoke guiding and retaining elements each formed with an opening receiving the adjacent spoke of the actuator in a manner preventing relative circumferential movement while permitting limited up and down movement of said actuator, and means securing said mounting element rigidly in place on said hub of the steering wheel.

MAURICE H. HO'LMNGSWORTH. 

